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Chief Justice Nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has proposed that Ghana’s general elections be moved from December 7 to November 7 to allow adequate time for the resolution of election petitions before the inauguration of a new government.
Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10, 2025, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie explained that the current one-month window between the December 7 elections and the January 7 inauguration is too short to conclude potential disputes fairly.
“After the election petition, we came to the conclusion that it should be possible to have petitions concluded before January 7, which is the inauguration day. The best suggestion that came up was to hold elections on November 7 or 8,” he said.
He added that if elections were conducted earlier, results could be declared by November 10, providing about 57 days—from mid-November to early January—for the judiciary to handle any legal challenges.
“Assuming we go by the 42-day window provided by CI 99, petitions can be filed, responded to, and tried within that period,” he noted.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie also called for the adoption of electronic service of court documents to help reduce procedural delays, arguing that technology could replace the slow, manual system currently used.
“Every originating process has to be served personally on the respondent. But in this age, we can use digital addresses or phone numbers for online contact. If petitions are served electronically, it can take three days instead of a week,” he suggested.
He emphasized that such reforms would ensure petitions are handled swiftly and transparently, allowing trials to conclude by late November and enhancing fairness and efficiency in Ghana’s electoral dispute resolution process.
